White Roses of Hope: A Tale of True Love

Kanishka’s phone kept ringing. It was her dad again. But she didn't feel like talking. Her parents were going through a divorce, and she felt lost, so she decided to leave home. Filled with despair, she roamed the streets. Her pale face and teary eyes reflected her sadness. How could this happen? After all these years of marriage, where did their love go? She had countless questions, but one thing was clear: true love seemed like a myth. Kanishka quickly texted her mother and caught a bus to her aunt Ananya's place. Ananya was calmly sipping tea when Kanishka burst in. "How could they just decide to split like that? Did they even think about me?" Tears welled up in her eyes. "I wish I had an answer, dear. Sometimes things just don't work out," Ananya said, embracing her. "Why don't you stay here for a few days? You can also help me with the flower shop." It seemed like a perfect distraction, so Kanishka agreed immediately. Adjusting wasn't easy for the 22-year-old. She was still upset about her parents' separation. But as the days passed, the flowers worked their magic and brought back her smile. She didn’t engage much with the customers, only exchanging pleasantries. Her aunt had a few regulars: a businessman who bought an expensive bouquet almost daily, a young woman who purchased a bunch of roses every other day, and a housewife who often had long discussions with Ananya about gardening. Among them was a peculiarly dressed old man who bought a single white rose every morning. One day, while Kanishka was at the cash counter, the old man bought another white rose. As she handed him the change, she couldn't help but ask, "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, why do you buy a white rose every day? We have so many other beautiful flowers in our shop." The old man smiled, "Indeed, they're all beautiful. But the white rose was my wife’s favorite. She used to grow them in our garden before she fell into a coma due to an accident." He went on, "I bought the same white rose on our first date. The doctors aren't very hopeful, but I believe she'll wake up one day. And when she does, I want her to be surrounded by her beloved flowers." Kanishka was amazed. True love does exist, she thought, as she looked at the beautiful white rose in his hand with joy.